What Would Ordination Of Women Look Like?

[Saints Alive]

I am curious as to what a female priestess-hood would look like. It seems that the obvious manifestation of female ordination would be a mirror image of the male priesthood, but I wonder if Joseph Smith intended to make the Relief society a para-priesthood organization with there own priestly functions, distinct from the male priesthood.

What are your thoughts?

[Questing Beast]

No change beyond gender distinction. "A priestess performed the ordinance." "A priest performed the ordinance."

Women already have the "priesthood" by virtue of their gender. It is males who have to be "given" something in order to accept that they are different than they were. Women already minister, nurture, uplift, sustain, without being told to do it. For most women that kind of life IS living to them. Men, on the other hand, are too busy playing at survival and conflict while their womenfolk do all that "priesthood" stuff. The only difference between the "priesthood" of men and women is that in the LDS faith the "keys" of authority reside in men, and so far the only priesthood ordinances that the keys to have been given to women are in the temple. Outward/outside ordinances are still only performed by men, but that will change, I am guessing....

[mercyngrace]

For one thing, I'd use much less oil on the head of people I anointed.

Leaving the temple with a greasy hair spot is kind of "ick". Worse yet, you're already sick and haven't washed your hair in two days and then you get a 1/4 tsp more oil added to your not-so-well-coiffed do? Seriously, put the oil down and get some shampoo and conditioner....

J/k

Edited April 8, 2013 by mercyngrace

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

It would look like your mom.

Lol.

[Mark Beesley]

Like this:

In other words, it won't look like it's taking place in an LDS chapel.

Edited April 8, 2013 by Mark Beesley

[mercyngrace]

... make the Relief society a para-priesthood organization with there own priestly functions, distinct from the male priesthood....

the Bene Gesserit?

[Stourme]

It would look a lot like apostasy...

[Garden Girl]

For one thing, I'd use much less oil on the head of people I anointed.

Leaving the temple with a greasy hair spot is kind of "ick". Worse yet, you're already sick and haven't washed your hair in two days and then you get a 1/4 tsp more oil added to your not-so-well-coiffed do? Seriously, put the oil down and get some shampoo and conditioner....

J/k

It is acceptable to request that the oil be applied to the forehead... therefore, all you need is a Kleenex between annointings. As a former ordinance worker for six years, I received many a request for the forehead...

I note your "wink smiley," but I want to be sure the ladies do know that they can request the oil on the forehead rather than the hair.

GG

[Buckeye]

the Bene Gesserit?

Awesome! As everyone knows, the RS leadership already has "the voice". YW are joining the Missionaria Protectiva in mass. Now if we can just change the "wierding way" to the "peculiar way" and get a ruling from SLC that melange is not against the WOW, we are basically there.

Oh, one other thing, the sisters will need to adopt Elder Oak's hairstyle. That may be a challenge.

Edited April 8, 2013 by Buckeye

[mercyngrace]

Buckeye,

I'm so thrilled you understood my reference that I am changing my avatar for the day...

Check it out!

[Buckeye]

Buckeye,

I'm so thrilled you understood my reference that I am changing my avatar for the day...

Check it out!

A very warm welcome to you .... Lady Jessica.

[Avatar4321]

It would look like a woman sitting down with members of the priesthood with hands on her head. so pretty much like any blessing a woman would recieve, just ordaining them instead.

[why me]

It would look like the Community of Christ. In fact, the two churches could merge and become one.

[Buckeye]

It would look like the Community of Christ. In fact, the two churches could merge and become one.

Ah, the stick of Brigham and the stick of Emma. But whose tithing practice would prevail?

[mercyngrace]

Ah, the stick of Brigham and the stick of Emma. But whose tithing practice would prevail?

Perhaps this is part of the restitution of all things spoken of in Acts 3.

You know, women held ordained offices in the early Christian church. The argument could be made that the removal of women from the clergy (about 1200, as I recall) was a significant part of the grand apostasy.

I won't be the one arguing it (except as a purely academic exercise). I'm just sayin'... It'd be an interesting position to take and defend especially since many theologians now recognize Paul's "silent women" remarks as later additions by a clumsy forger and those words have been the basis for excluding women from the priesthood in many denominations.

[Cobalt-70]

I think the offices would have to be the same. You'd have, for example, female Stake Presidents, female Elders Quorum presidents, and female High Priest group leaders. I think we should retain the Relief Society, but make it a co-ed organization for service and fellowship. Participation would be optional--but it would be so cool that everybody would want to participate. Relief Society would have no specific meeting during the Sunday schedule, but would have activities during the week. It would be the social and service arm of the church. Priesthood meetings would be co-ed, and just 30 minutes long prior to Sacrament Meeting. We can get rid of the one-size-fits-all Sunday School format, and replace it with smaller, optional classes after Sacrament Meeting tailored to the needs of the participants. Some of the Sunday School classes would be pablum, others would be doctrinal meat, including classes geared toward Liahona Mormons.

Edited April 8, 2013 by Cobalt-70

[bluebell]

You know, women held ordained offices in the early Christian church. The argument could be made that the removal of women from the clergy (about 1200, as I recall) was a significant part of the grand apostasy.

Or, that the ordination of women into the clergy was a significant part of the great apostasy.

[mercyngrace]

Or, that the ordination of women into the clergy was a significant part of the great apostasy.

In which case the Catholic church started the restoration by removing them from their positions and altering the Biblical texts.

Two cheers for the Vatican!

[bluebell]

In which case the Catholic church started the restoration by removing them from their positions and altering the Biblical texts.

Two cheers for the Vatican!

They were bound to get a few things right along the way.

[Nathair/|\]

Mary, the Mother of the Lord, seems to play a very important role in early Christian esoteric rites, at least according to texts cited by Nibley in Early Christian Prayer Circles.

[Saints Alive]

It would look like the Community of Christ. In fact, the two churches could merge and become one.

No because the CoC still wants no part in most of our temple ordinances.

[Nathair/|\]

If it were to happen, which I don't think it will in my life time it's possible that priestesses would act in the name of Heavenly Mother.

[CASteinman]

You know, women held ordained offices in the early Christian church.

Far as I know.. this is only a maybe.

[DonBradley]

Here are some of Joseph Smith's instructions to the Relief Society, when it was first organized in 1842:

Prest. Smith further remark’d that an organization to show them how to go to work would be sufficient. He propos’d that the Sisters elect a presiding officer to preside over them, and let that presiding officer choose two Counsellors to assist in the duties of her Office— that he would ordain them to preside over the Society— and let them preside just as the Presidency, preside over the church.... If any Officers are wanted to carry out the designs of the Institution, let them be appointed and set apart, as Deacons, Teachers &c. are among us.

[President Joseph] Said...all must act in concert or nothing can be done— that the Society should move according to the ancient Priesthood, hence there should be a select Society separate from all the evils of the world, choice, virtuous and holy— Said he was going to make of this Society a kingdom of priests as in Enoch’s day— as in Pauls day.

http://josephsmithpapers.org/paperDetails/nauvoo-relief-society-minute-book?dm=text-only&zm=zoom-inner&tm=expanded&p=3&s=undefined&sm=none

So, based on these, what did Joseph Smith intend to ultimately happen with the Relief Society? And how were the women's offices, in their own "kingdom of priests," supposed to be determined?

Don

[Saints Alive]

Don:

That actually makes it sound like JS just wanted them to govern their own organization and never intended for them to be ordained in the same sense and to the same priesthood as men. Interesting.